Oxfam Response to the UK government's climate and energy plans announced today

"The Government’s new climate strategies are simply tinkering around the edges but are far off the mark for the scale of the challenge we face and do little to address the impacts already being felt.

“While fossil fuel companies rake in record profits, people living in poverty are already bearing the brunt of climate-induced crises, including the devastating hunger crisis happening now in East Africa.

“The Government’s boost for renewables is welcome but plans to extend offshore drilling for oil and gas betray their stated commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

“Rich, polluting countries like the UK who are most responsible for the climate crisis have a responsibility to pay their debt to poorer countries by providing sufficient funds to address loss and damage and help them adapt to a changing climate as well as phase-out of fossil fuels quickly and equitably.

“Just last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a ‘final warning’ on the climate crisis – calling for urgent global action. This revised strategy falls well short.”